YOURSAY | Vernacular schools easy target for politicians

YOURSAY | ’Mukhriz has no better idea but to adopt a narrow racist stance to gain attention.’

'Non-Malay PM': Abolish vernacular education first, says Mukhriz

Mazilamani: Has any leader since Malaysia’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman ever thought about progressing or developing this country to an international level?

Every party except for one is only concerned about shaping this country into a jaguh kampung through education, religion, and politics. Without the right outward look and progressive policies, what will happen to future generations of people?

Everything done by political parties is for their selfish agenda. Because of our inward-looking nature, we may allow ourselves to be exploited by other countries, enslaving our people. History has taught us that it was our weakness or ignorance that caused us to be exploited by the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and the Thais, if not the whole of Malaya, at least some states.

We are today on better ground than our ancestors. Can’t we use our little advantage to achieve higher progress and development to catch up or compete with countries that have advanced light years ahead through better thinking progress, which indirectly refers to education?

Look at what has happened to China in the last three decades. Yes, we agree that the Chinese are very hard-working and resourceful people, but do we think China would be where it is today without modern technology adopted from Russia and Western countries through education?

Today, a few million Chinese are seeking foreign education in every kind of discipline and returning to share their knowledge with their fellow countrymen, teachers, consultants, scientists, and business leaders.

The change has come about with advanced education. What are we doing here? Our politics is all about making everyone Malay by education and religion. Is this what politics is all about? What Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang say and do is the same, except they are coming from different directions.

Max Fury: Why blame just the vernacular schools? If our Malay children learn Mandarin or even Tamil in schools, then the Malays can mix and integrate with the non-Malays too. Don’t just point the finger at the vernacular schools. In situations like this, it has to work both ways.

Everyone must learn and be fluent in each other’s languages, so we will have Malaysians who can speak Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English. Wouldn’t that be a better solution than just hauling up the vernacular schools and blaming them for the disunity in the country? Languages unite all people so if we can all speak and understand each other regardless of race, then we all can live together as one community and one nation.

Coward: A non-Malay prime minister, when the time comes, will be able to unite every Malaysian regardless of race. After all, unlike Malay prime ministers who are finding out that non-Malay support may be critical to get the prime minister post, for a non-Malay prime minister, Malay support is a must.

Right now, the best course towards integration is not to abolish vernacular schools or independent schools, nor is it complaining that others are not integrating, but to get rid of politicians like Mukhriz who are driving the wedge between us. Integration is continuing to happen smoothly, and we were developing our brand of integration.

They don't like the current integration trend because their brand of politics is losing out if it continues. So they promote their integration concept which is nothing but racial and religious supremacy. In the long run, they will lose out, but not without a fight.

Hearty Malaysian: Desperate words from a politician who was trounced and even lost his deposit in the 15th general election. Mukhriz has no better idea but to adopt a narrow racist stance to gain attention. Learning one’s mother tongue, Mandarin, through Chinese schools, caused no national disharmony.

There are an increasing number of Malays who chose to study in Chinese schools over the last 20 years, which speaks volumes of the superiority of Chinese schools in terms of teaching and discipline. The rise of China in the world means there are more opportunities for those who can speak and write Mandarin. It is those corrupt politicians who hide behind racial politics causing more disharmony amongst the populace.

Man on the Silver Mountain: The paradoxical Gordian knot again. By the way, it is interesting how father and son are distancing themselves from each other. Father resigned from Pejuang to join Ibrahim Ali’s Putra. Son Mukhriz, on the other hand, tried his luck with Perikatan Nasional, obviously seeing the greener pasture there.

Perhaps Mukhriz should endeavour for the Switzerland model. Malaysia is not as homogenous as Thailand. He is of course wrong in the US model, as these politicians often are. Former US president Barack Obama did not assimilate himself into the US, he was already a true blue American. His skin is just a colour which the Americans do not differentiate in their Constitution.

Prominority: This statement from the Pejuang president is a telling sign of just how politically weak Mukhriz is. During the 1960s and 1970s, how were race relations so admirable even when vernacular schools existed? Vernacular schools have become the lowest-hanging fruit for struggling politicians like Mukhriz to become a hero.

Mcgreen: Creating another sensational news to stay relevant in politics. Globally, countries encourage their citizens to be equipped with skills and learn a different language. Father and son should quit politics. Why do you send your kids to learn English? Stop them first before you open your mouth.

Gerard Lourdesamy: What about the US and the UK? Did Obama or UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have to assimilate into the majority culture before they could become president and prime minister respectively? So speaking Bahasa Malaysia is not enough, we need to become like the Malays in thinking, culture, behaviour, and even religion before we can be accepted as equals?

I agree that the existence of vernacular schools is not ideal just like Article 153 in the Federal Constitution which is personified in the exclusivity of UiTM to a single race in public education despite that being an intrinsic human right. Perhaps the time will soon come for us to revisit the 1957 constitutional arrangements if we are to move forward as a united nation and people.

Cogito Ergo Sum: When will we have a Malaysian prime minister for all? Doing away with vernacular schools will not ensure that we have a Malaysian prime minister. Doing away with divisive affirmative action and quotas will help a long way.

Can we find someone who will identify himself or herself with all Malaysians, having one ear close to the most disadvantaged of society without looking at their ethnicity? That is the problem we have.

Kilimanjaro: Fair enough. Would Mukhriz be brave enough to say that all religious schools and the Mara government agency should be closed? The division is plain enough - the Muslims and the non-Muslims. And who created this division?

JazliSalleh: Now we know why you Mukhriz will never be prime minister material. Your father was a failed prime minister because he chose disunity over unity. The greatest leaders of the world chose the unity of their citizens over disunity. The progressive nations opted for unity rather than disunity. So Mahathir and Mukhriz can never be suitable ones to lead the nation. Your graph is on the decline. Bye-bye.

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